A bit worried

Flo has had a sore paw so we took her to the vets last week and he prescribe some antibiotics. I also mentioned that she seemed to have slowed up on walks and was wondering if it was arthritis causing her discomfort. the vet (one Flo hadn't seen before) said straight away that it was, a rather rapid diagnosis considering he hadn't actually touched her I felt, anyway he prescribed something for that too. He went on to say she had little back leg muscle but to be honest she's always been like that.

Yesterday Flo couldn't keep her footing on the smooth kitchen floor and then I noticed she has a very weak back left leg ( the one that has always looked the weaker since her TTA on the other side )
Having seen that, we booked an appointment with the vets for tonight and I'm hoping she gets to see her usual vet but I'm still worried for her. The vet didn't think it could be a side effect of the meds he's given her but I think it may well be that, at least I'm hoping it's that.

Even though she is in obvious discomfort the brave little lady managed to climb two flights of stairs before the wife realised, just to have a cuddle with me this morning. I have to confess I am worried

Oh poor Flo, please let us know how she gets on Ian

Any news yet, Ian?

Hope all goes well with Flo tonight Ian,fingers crossed.

Yep just got back. We saw the same vet which was disappointing but he was very thorough this time (unlike last time) and did lots of tests for reflexes and the like along with the usual eye, mouth, nose checks. Her front reflexes are spot on but her back ones are not right.

To me that was bloody obvious but he's the vet!! Her left rear paw reflex was slower than her right rear but was reactive, he could find nothing obvious but did a spinal check too. Now i thought her reactions were right but he didn't seem to think so.

Anyway, up shot is that he is going to check the meds she's on with the drug company just in case and has taken bloods. Have to take her back tomorrow, though he wanted her to stay in but she would get stressed so I've said no to that and will keep her from climbing anything. He is keen to refer her for an MRI as he thinks it's a problem mid spine (affecting both legs so I guess that's possible), thing is, she hasn't done anything to cause injury hence my scepticism. I think the MRI is the way to go if the meds aren't the issue, lets hope the insurance coughs up this time else no holidays for us and Flo this year

Have to say though that Flo is my little star and put up with everything without a murmur and just a little shaking

Thanks Kit.

She's her usual alert self currently watching out for a bug that has crept in and is flying around the living room

aww poor girl,its so worrying when they are not well,fingers crossed for her tomorrow 

Thanks Stella, she really is fine in herself and forgets that she can't do her normal things but we are on to it, she'll get pinned down with loads of cuddles till we get to the bottom of it.

Thanks for asking Liz, we probably won't know for a bit but me and the wife have been thinking and there isn't anything that we can pin down as an injury so now we think that perhaps in her attempt to clean her ...bits, she's twisted something in her back. I know, clutching at straws but that's all we all have just now

It might not be a single cause injury, Ian. You can get arthritis in the spine, for example.

Before going down the MRI route, the one question I would ask is of your vet is whether knowing what's going on would actually change how you manage the situation. It's a discussion I've just had with Keith about Nola, who has something going on in her hindquaters that's making her lick but that isn't causing lameness. Nola's 10 and we're assuming it's maybe arthritis. We agreed that we could x-ray but that it wouldn't actually change how we decide to deal with it, so we're not going to put her through it.

Clearly, if there's something to be gained for Flo in doing it then absolutely, but I'd probably be holding off to see if medication can help without the need for the sedation and worry to her of a scan.

What sort of age do you think she now is, by the way? She's been showing as '10ish' since I joined!

She's about 11 we think Liz. I'm waiting on a call from the vets this morning so will have another chat with him about our thoughts of what we think she might have done but you have certainly made me think of more to discuss before having the MRI. I think in all probability that he will say it's the only way of really knowing what's going on but nether the less I will be discussing options.

I'm sorry to hear that Ian, I hope there is something simple that can help Flo

She's going for a scan tomorrow Laura so we'll know more after that. Thankfully she isn't any worse but is looking sorry for herself and enjoying extra cuddles.

Good luck for tomorrow. I will be thinking of Flo & you, I know how worrying it is. I always wish they could talk when something is wrong

aww sending great big hugs from Sasha and me Flo 

Thanks guys. We have the appointment at 2 for the first look and then I have to leave her there overnight, I'm really not looking forward to that bit

Aww bless, I don't blame you. I wouldn't like mine being away over night either. It's for the best to get some answers

I know it'll be strange for her but I'm sure she'll be in good hands. To be honest you're the one I feel more sorry for

I guess she won't know much about it. The vet advised that she is in good health and not to worry about the anaesthetic but you can't help but worry can you

to you all, hope Flo gets on ok. They do like to worry us Ian She will be fine I'm sure

Anaesthetic is a worry. I trust my vet so much and that makes it easier. I'm sure your vet will take very good care of your girl

I'm sure she will be fine though it won't be done at my vets, she's been referred to the specialists

The specialists are the experts

Have you got a good place not too far away?

The first choice was fully booked Liz so our vet has got Flo into somewhere a little further away but he says there really isn't anything to choose between the two clinics simply which one could see her first.

Good luck hugs! We've got our paws and fingers crossed for you xx

I keep checking in for news...

Sorry I missed this. Hope all goes well tomorrow and little Flo is ok. Xx

Poor thing, hope all goes well.

Thanks for your good wishes all.

I didn't post yesterday as there was no news really but I can update now. Flo had an examination yesterday and from that the vet thought that it was a spinal cord issue and went on to explain what he thought was going on. Basically the thinking was that one of her discs had ruptured and was squeezing on the cord which is why she can still walk but with very bad coordination. The only way to confirm was to have an MRI & make a decision on what to do based on the findings.

Today I had the call from the vet who said she was fine but needed to discuss the options once he had shown us what was going on, so this afternoon we arrived and a few short minutes later Flo came out to greet us with lots of noise and the waggiest of tails. Reviewing the MRI the vet showed us that the cord is indeed pinched but not in the exact way that he originally thought and that there was a further area that is also narrowed 3 vertebrates apart. This second area is a bit more problematic due to obvious arthritis.

He went on to explain that there is a case to delay any surgery and see if anti inflammatory treatment helps first and if so put it off for the time being. If no improvement then the issue is that the two areas are only two vertebrae apart and this could cause extra pressure there or, at a stretch, fuse all 4 together. All of this will needed to be considered as there is also the very real chance that the cord could be damaged more and render her rear end paralysed.

In the short term we are crossing our fingers that we see improvement and are due back for review next Thursday.

Flo is still a little groggy and telling us off for leaving her there but that's a good thing as its her normalcy.

Bless her waggy tail. I bet she'll be pleased to get home.

It's good you've got a plan, I really hope the meds help enough to settle her without surgery, for the time being at least.

Yup she checked out that nobody else had been in her bed, she's had a little dinner and is now ensconced in her corner of the sofa snuggled up to my eldest son

I'm glad there is a plan & Flo is happy to be home

Thanks Laura. She'll feel better tomorrow I'm sure.

I bet you really missed her

It was like losing your shadow. Normally she's tight against me all evening until she decides it's bed time so all I have to do is rest my hand on her.

And of course the SuperVet was on last night and the first case was very similar to Flo's problem so that all hit home too

I was thinking of u both. It's obvious you love her & can imagine how you felt. Saxon being neutered was bad enough for me

I hope Flo feels better soon.

Bless her. We have fingers and paws crossed that the meds work xx

Glad Flo's back home with you and keeping my fingers crossed too that the meds work and that surgery can be avoided. I think everyone's been checking for news of how you got on all day, we're all wishing Flo well and thinking of you.
I'm sure Flo's in for lots of treats and cuddles!

Sorry Ian I am only just now catching up after being offline for a bit. I hope Flo is ok, and I hope Daddy is doing ok too !!! Lots of extra cuddles I think. Thinking of you all

Thanks to you all for your supportive wishes

*Update*

Flo had a good nights rest but still woke grumbling a little which is down to the last of the anaesthetic leaving her system we hope. As if to prove the point at 11:30 right on time she slithered off the sofa (as Staffies do), stood in the middle of the living room and shouted at me to get her late morning treat of a Duck strip

The vet advised that she should only be allowed in the garden and no mountain climbing and fortunately the sun has shone and Flo has been doing her favourite thing, sun bathing

So no progress to mention but equally no worsening.

Let's hope there is lots more sunny days for Flo to sunbathe, nothing better being outside on a nice day. We are overdue a nice summer

Aww bless her

Bless her, hope that she can live a bit longer and happier

That's great to hear she hasn't got any worse. Hopefully it will be sunny again today for you Flo x

Unfortunately the meds haven't had the effect we hoped for and if anything she's a little worse. Today we had another appointment with the specialists and reviewed Flo's options. Having discussed the issue the vet has come up with (hopefully) a less drastic course but it will still involved surgery.

We had a lengthy conversation about Flo's general health and if surgery was the best thing, he said that given her health there's no reason not to proceed and that there is a good prognosis baring any nasty surprises. Flo's on a course of steroids which will help in the run up to surgery which is booked for first thing Wednesday.

Flo was a star again, but did shake the whole time we were in there. She really doesn't like the vets poor girl.

Poor Flo and poor you. The good thing is the vet seems confident that she'll be ok after surgery, so we'll all keep our fingers crossed for you and be wishing Flo the best of recoveries.

It was quiet funny, the vet said he preferred operating on Staffies as they are "Robust" dogs and tend to heal well. When he said robust I had to look at Flo's waist just to make sure she hadn't put on too much weight before realising he meant Staffies are proper dogs

Ruff Tuff Staffies, that's what he means.

It's a shame the meds alone didn't do the trick but I'm pleased he's got a less risky op to go for instead. It sounds like you've got a good plan now, and are in very safe hands.

I'm sorry to hear the meds didn't make a difference. The op sounds promising